How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you're experiencing lots of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right portion of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A Pvc doctor starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concerns.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to manage the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.

Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can live the normal life. They could increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.

A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, window and door doctor near me limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Certain people may require an organ transplant.